Museum Holiday Party to feature Grace Adele Thursday

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas and the Southern Ohio Museum and Cultural Center is ready to welcome the season with a series of events, including the opening of two art galleries, featuring the local talents of professional artists and students; a Cirque d’Art Theatre preview, showcasing the upcoming “Le Nutcracker Cirque;” and the crowning event, the Museum Holiday Party, which will feature the music of Grace Adele.

The museum welcomes the talent of Grace Adele whenever possible, typically when she is passing through the area or for major events.

“She has been here quite a few times and each time we’ve built on the audience,” Artistic Director Charlotte Gordon said. “She has played at a few other places in the area, too. She is just gaining popularity, so we try to bring her in when we know she will be passing through the area.”

Gordon said that Adele will be performing a special Christmas set that she and her band has arranged.

“It is going to be fun. It will be a sort of country Christmas type of thing,” Gordon said.

Around the time Adele performs, Gordon said that local musician Bard Suverkrop will be reading “The Night Before Christmas” to background music.

The museum will also be providing activities for children, as well as food and snacks for all guests

“It is just going to be a really, really fun night to get everyone in the mood for the season,” Gordon said. “The doors will be flung open and everything is free to the public, so we can celebrate the holidays together.”

The opening exhibits include River Currents and STEM Responds to the Permanent Collection. River Currents was curated by Emily Uldrich, museum educator. It was her first time curating a show and she said it was a fun and educational experience.

“I think all three artists are fantastic,” Uldrich said. “It was a real privilege to get to know the artists better, check out their studios, and look through the bulk of their work. It is impressive to see what great talent there is in Portsmouth.”

The three artists include Fatima Azimova, Todd Reynolds, and Don Blevins.

STEM Responds to the Permanent Collection will feature interpretations and responses from Portsmouth STEM Academy students on their studies of the museum’s permanent collections.

The galleries open on December 10, the same day of the celebration.

STEM students will exhibit their show and perform what they’ve learned from Cirque d’Art Theare at 5 p.m., Cirque d’Art Theatre will provide a preview of “Le Nutcracker Cirque” at 7 p.m. and Grace Adele will get the Museum Holiday Party started at 7:30 p.m.

The Southern Ohio Museum is at 825 Gallia Street, in the heart of Portsmouth’s downtown area, and has two entrances. The entrance on Gallia leads to the lobby and store, while the Sixth Street entrance features a wheelchair ramp. The museum is open Tuesdays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturdays from 1-5 p.m; closed Sundays, Mondays and major holidays. A museum official can be reached at 740-354-5629.

“The Museum Holiday Party will be fun for the whole family,” Gordon said. “We are hoping many families and kids take advantage of everything. There will be music, our gift store will be open, and I think there is something for everyone.”